Drying rack



R. T. KORB DRYING RACK Oct. 3, 1933.

2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 12, 1930 NN i w w W r m .m M1 0 R Ni 1 w H :H i. w 15H wfi Oct. 3, 1933. KQRB 1,929,319

DRYING RACK Filed ,April 12, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Invmvron Robert 'I.

Patented Oct. 3, 1933 Robert T. Kerb, Haddon Heights, N.'-J. I Application April 12, 1930. Serial No. 44 3,8 62

. 8 Claims.

This invention relates to racks or supporting frames for the drying andseasoning of strip material in sheets and/or Continuous lengths, and the principal object of the invention is to provide an improvedform of rack for the support of linolerun in continuous lengths while it is.

drying and seasoning.

A further object of my invention is to providev an improved form of supporting shelves upon which strip material or the linoleum lengths may belaid in the racks or frames; such supporting shelves being in the form of continuous-elements of a foraminous character whereby .the desired support with complete ventilation is provided for.. I

And a still further object of my inventionis to provide improved means for supporting the foraminous shelves upon which the strip ma-.

terial or linoleumlengths are laid during dryingand seasoning.

These and other features of my invention are more fully described hereinafter; reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure, 1 isa side elevation, largely diagrammatic, ofa rack or supporting frame within the scope of my invention; partlybroken away in view of the great length.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the rack or frame shown in Fig. l. A

Fig. 3 is an end view of the rack shown in Figs. 1 and 2. v

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view illustrating a modification within the scope of my invention.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view, partly in section, of. 5 part of one end of the'rack or frame.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the structure illustrated in Fig.. 5, and Fig. 7 is a sectional view, on a still larger scale,

inous shelves.

Linoleum is produced in continuous length approximately one hundredand eighty (180) feet inlength and in various widths which may range lengths of linoleum or other material may be i laid for drying and seasoning, and it may be of one of the supports for the continuous foram-' p g central row of vertical posts is omitted; such 95 s 1 form of structure being available, to take sheets thirty or more feet in height. When such height is provided for it may have a great-many, seventy (70) or' more, of thef'oraminous shelves upon eachof which threeor four (or more) of the continuouslengths of linoleum orv strip ma terial inany length maybe placed. f The rack or frame is made of structural metal and may comprise .a series of vertical beams 1 of I, .H, or other form arranged va suitable distance apart, which beams orposts" are braced and stayed longitudinally ofthe'structure by a series of horizontally disposed structural sections '2; such arrangement providing a .seriesof panels. and the vertical beams or posts 1 maybe fur--. ther braced and .stayed by adjustabletension rods 3 diagonally placed in the respectivepanels. Inasmuch as the rack or frame is subject to enor- 1 mous strains longitudinally, it is preferable to brace the flanges of the vertical beams or posts longitudinally thereof, and for this purpose flat 1 plates 2 aligned. with the flanges of the longi-.

'tudinal sections 2 may be welded or otherwise.

secured between the saidfianges of the vertical beams or posts.

The supporting shelves, forthe continuous lengths of linoleum or other material consist. of continuouslengths of wire fabric, indicated at 4,

.and preferably'of the type made .up of interconnecte-d'helically formed cross wir'es' whose ends are suitably connected together. This vwire fabric 35 is of well knownjtype.

In Figs. 2 and.3 I have shown a structure arranged to provide two sets or series of vertically arranged shelves's'ide by side; the rack or frame having a central line of vertical posts'transversely aligned with the other vertical posts, making up the rack or frame. In Fig. 4, I have shown a fragmentaryview of a form of rack of the full width indicated inFigs. 2 and 3, but in which the or lengths of a dimension up to double the width of material which may be accommodated by. the arrangement of shelves indicated in Figs. 2 and 3..

The sections of wire fabric are held at each end and maintained in a relatively taut condition. For this purpose a series of horizontally disposed structural members 5, which may be channels, are provided at each endof the frame and connected to the vertical beams or posts at such ends. Beyond the ends of the frame these members 5 are braced and stayed by vertically disposed structural members 6. The helically formedt cross wires at the ends of the continuous sections of wire fabric receive cross I bars ,7 extending the g full width of the wire fabric and these bars are caught by hooked bolts 8 angularly disposed and passed through the adjacent flanges 5 of the members 5; being held to such flanges by nuts 8 5 which also serve to take up slack in the wire fabric lengths. These hooked bolts are connected to the 7 cross bars '7 at regular intervals and, preferably, not less than six inches apart.

Should the wire fabric sections expand unduly, a sufficient' number of the helically formed wires making up the same may be removed and the cross bar reset at the new end provided. In practice there is little necessity for removing these wires since, being of metal, the expansion and' contraction of the wire fabric follows theexpansion and contraction of the frame orrack.

It is necessary of course to support the wire fabric shelves at intervals throughout their length and means for such purpose are clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 7. The vertical beams or posts are cross-braced by a series of structural members 9'suitably connectedto the same; the arrangement of such members and their vertical ,spacing,being such that sufficient room is'provided for thereception of three or 'four more. continuous lengths of linoleum or other material superposed upon each other. Ini'order to give the wire fabric a substantially smooth support .over these members 9, rounded pillow members 10 30 "areplace d' thereonand welded or otherwise secured thereto; such pillow members having a convex upper surface uponwhich the wire fabric rests, as shown in Fig. 6. The width of these ..pillow members is such that the wire fabric may be properly supported without the formation of a rib'to' mark and mar the linoleum or other material, for even though the" wire fabric may sag slightly between successive pillow member supports, the convexity of the same prevents the formation of sharp corners or edges and avoids damage to the linoleum or other material. The members 10 illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 lie transversely'between the central and the outer rows of posts intwo sections, while those. illustrated in Fig. 4' are" of full width; lying between the outer rows'offposts. e

The height of the structure necessitates the provision of 'means for'gaining access to the several shelves'andI may arrange a series of platsame for the desired :period necessary to effect drying and seasoning. During this time the rack or frame and the wire fabric'shelves expand under 5 theheat present, but as all-parts are of metal this expansion is substantially uniform. At the end of the drying and seasoning period, the doors of the drying chamber'are opened and the linoleumor other material is allowed to cool. During this period the metal parts contract to substantially the original length and the wire fabric follows this contraction and maintains its original' taut condition. Thewire fabric sections are drawn into the frame over the pillow members 10 and stretched forms at various heights alongthe sides of the.

ing very slight and substantially negligible.

When the desired position has been attained, the cross bars '7 are inserted in one of the helically formed wires making up the wire fabric adjacent to the hooked ends of the bolts 8; these hooks are then engaged with said bar and the nuts 8 draw up the bolts and hold the wire fabric sections in proper position. Any cross wires beyond the bars 7 are then removed.

The wire fabric made up of helically formed cross wires is particularly desirable for use as the supporting means for linoleum and other strip material in sheets or continuous lengths. It is subject. to little stretch; it presents in the aggregate a substantially flat surface and the spacing of the individual coils and the rounded character of the latter provide a minimum surfacefor actual contact with the linoleum and/or other material, and the factor of friction is negligible.-

It will be understood, however, that while it is preferred. to employ wire fabric of the type made up of helically formed cross wires, other forms of wire fabric may be employed when capable of performing the desired function, without departing from my invention.

I claim:

1. In a rackfor the drying and seasoning of.

linoleum and other material, the combination of such material, a continuous length of wire.

fabric serving as the shelf, take-up means disposed at the ends of the frame for holding said wire fabric in a taut condition, and supports for said take-up means disposed beyond the ends of the frame.

2. In a rack for the drying and seasoning of linoleum and other material, the combination of an elongated frame comprising a plurality of longitudinal members, uprights, and cross members betweencsaid uprights; such construction providing a series of openings or spaces'vertically disposed between said uprights, a shelf of foraminous material disposed longitudinally of said frame in said vertically disposed spaces and serving as a support for continuous lengths of such material, a continuous length of wire fab- ,ric serving as the shelf; said wire fabric being nected to the end wires of said fabric, take-up means at the ends of the frame in engagement with said bars and serving to hold said wire fabric in a taut condition, andsupports for said take-up means disposed beyond the ends of the frame.

3. In a rack for the drying and seasoning of linoleum and other material, the combination of an elongated frame comprising a plurality of longitudinal members, uprights, and cross memserving as a support for continuous lengths of such material, a continuous length of wire fabric serving as the shelf; said wire fabric being made up of a series of helically formed interconnected cross wires, continuous cross-bars connected to the end wires, a series of transverse members disposed beyond the ends of said frame, and adjustable bolts carried by said transverse members and having hooked ends engaging said continuous cross-bars for holding said wire fabric in a taut condition.

4. In a rack for the drying and seasoning of linoleum and other material, the combination of an elongated frame comprising a plurality of longitudinal members, uprights, and cross members between said uprights, such construction providing a series of openings or spaces vertically disposed between said uprights, a shelf of foraminous material disposed longitudinally of said frame in said vertically disposed spaces and serving as a support for continuous lengths of such material, a continuous length of wire fabric forming the shelf, and a plurality of supple mental supports carried by the cross members and disposed at intervals throughout the length of the frame upon which said shelf may rest.

5. In a rack for the drying and seasoning of linoleum and other material, the combination of an elongated; frame comprising a plurality of longitudinal members, uprights, and cross members between said uprights; such construction providing a series of openings or spaces vertically disposed between said uprights, a shelf of foraminous material disposed longitudinally of said frame in said vertically disposed spaces and serving as a support for continuous lengths of such material, a continuous length of wire fabric forming the shelf, and a plurality of rounded supports carried by the cross members and disposed at intervals throughout the length of the frame upon which said shelf may rest.

7 6. In a rack for the drying and seasoning of linoleum and other material, the combination of an elongated frame comprising a plurality of longitudinal members, uprights, and cross members between said uprights; such construction providing a series of openings or spaces vertically disposed between said uprights, a shelf of foraminous material disposed longitudinally and serving as a support for continuous lengths of such material, a continuous length of wire fabric made up of helically formed interconnected continuous cross wires serving as the shelf, cross bars connected to each of the end wires of said wire fabric, a series of hooked bolts engaging each of said cross bars, supports for said bolts disposed beyond the ends of the frame, and nuts in engagement with said supports for taking up said bolts and imparting tension to said wire fabric.

7. A rack for drying and seasoning linoleum in continuous strips, comprising an elongated structural metal frame made up of a series of vertical posts, a series .of longitudinal sections disposed between and connected to said posts for bracing and staying said frame in a longitudinal direction, a series of sets of cross members between said posts, pillow members supported by said crossmembers; suchv construction providing a series of openings or spaces vertically disposed between said vertical posts, a series of horizontally disposed foraminous elements in continuous lengths supported by said pillowv members; said foraminous elements presenting a series of clear, unbroken and unobstructed surfaces from end to end of the frame, and means disposed between and connected to said posts for bracing and staying said frame in a longitudinal direction, a series of sets of transverse members supported by said vertical posts throughout the length of the frame; such construction providing a series of openings or spaces vertically disposed between said vertical posts, pillow members having rounded upper surfaces mounted on said transverse members, a series of horizontally disposed foraminous elements in continuous lengths supported by said pillow members;

said foraminous elements presenting a series of clear, unbroken and unobstructed surfaces from end to end of the frame, and means disposed at the ends of the frame for holding said foraminous elements in a taut condition.

ROBERT T. KORB. 

